How To Be So Interesting, You’re Downright Fascinating

Do you always feel like your life is pretty average? Do you want to become a more interesting person but have no idea how to go about it? It’s not as complicated or as difficult as you’re probably thinking. It just takes a little effort as well as the desire to expand your worldview and evolve as a person. Here are some tips to get you started.

  1. Listen. The first step to becoming fascinating is to listen. We all know that one person, whether it’s your coworker or your “best friend” from college, who just never listens. They love to chat and gossip as long as they’re the only ones talking. After a while, spending any time with these people is an absolute chore. So if you want to be more interesting, learn how to really listen to other people. Hear what they’re saying, and make sure you understand it before you respond.
  2. Ask good questions. Once you’ve listened to other people, the next step is to ask good questions and use them to learn new things. Invite the other person to teach you something new about their experiences. For example, if you’re coworker tells you about how she went to Las Vegas with her boyfriend, stay away from basic questions like, “Was it fun?” Instead, try asking questions that allow the other person to really elaborate on their story, such as, “Did you see any concerts?” or “What were some of the best places to eat?” This shows that you’re interested in what the other person says, and you can also learn some cool new facts that you can share with someone else in the future. (Apparently there are several great places to get ramen in Las Vegas. Now I can pass this information along if someone else brings up Las Vegas.)
  3. Be well-cultured. Well-cultured means that you have a basic knowledge of the arts and literature, especially when it comes to the classics. Some good places to start are: watching plays by Shakespeare, listening to some classical music, and reading classic novels by authors like Charles Dickens or Jane Austen. Also, being well-cultured means you stay up-to-date with the arts, so take yourself to an art gallery or go see a local theater production. Becoming a patron of the arts will make you a well-rounded person, and you will be much more interesting as a result.
  4. Put the phone down when you’re with other people. So much opportunity is wasted when you spend the whole time avoiding eye contact! Put your phone down for five minutes and just look around the room or comment on the weather. If you have to depend on your phone as a crutch in every social situation, most people aren’t going to give you a chance to prove how interesting you really are. In order to be interesting, you have to be present, at least once in a while.
  5. Learn how to tell a good story. There are a lot of ways that you can learn how to tell a good story while you’re chatting with someone. Some of the standard techniques are to start by grabbing their attention (“Did I tell you about the time when…?”), having a clear idea of what your story is, and keeping it concise. Also, if you want to learn how to tell a good story, start by choosing your top 3 funniest/craziest experiences and learn those stories inside and out. With practice, your listeners will be rolling on the floor laughing every time you tell the story about the time you went rock climbing with a llama (or whatever else you were doing).
  6. Try a new hobby. If there’s one thing that will help you sound interesting, it’s having a cool hobby. Some of the coolest hobbies that you can learn include photography, playing an instrument, dancing, baking homemade sourdough bread, and upcycling/DIY projects. And good news– with the internet, you can learn most of these things for free! Once you learn the basics, using Google, YouTube, and any other free online resources, you can choose if you want to sign up for a class to take your skills to the next level. Once you learn a new hobby, it feels really good to have something you can relax with in your spare time. You can even use it as a way to meet new friends.
  7. Try new workouts. Sometimes, the key is to be more interesting to yourself. If you try all these techniques and you still feel like your life hasn’t quite shifted in the right direction, try a new workout routine. For some of us, this might mean going to the gym, or dusting off the exercise bike. For some people like myself, a new workout routine might mean taking a walk around your neighborhood in the evenings or getting into some basic yoga. This new routine can help you feel more confident in yourself, and add something new to your life.
  8. Make new friends. Last, but certainly not least, you’ll want to actually go out and meet people. And remember, we become who we hang out with. So if you want to become an interesting person, go hang out with some interesting people! Meet people who share similar hobbies with you. Meet people while you’re out enjoying the local theater production. Meet people at your new cycling class. Surround yourself with the people who you think are interesting. With time and patience, you’ll be downright fascinating before you know it!
Lauryn is a writer and blogger who hails from California. She loves big dogs, fuzzy blankets, and hot cheetos.
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